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Vauxhall Insignia will lift the brand to a higher level
publication date: Nov 18, 2008
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author/source: David Miles
 | | | Classy styling, German ‘premium' values but at affordable prices, starting from a headline grabbing £15,935 are the key points for the new Vauxhall Insignia.
But the newcomer is much more than that. It points the way forward for Vauxhall as a brand to become more desirable.
The core platform designed for Insignia will be used worldwide by Vauxhall's parent company GM and will spawn 17 different models and eight body styles with power sources from petrol to hybrids.
With the executive sized four-door coupe styled Saloons and five-door Hatchbacks arriving in the UK at the end of this year and Sports Tourer five-door estates early next year the upper medium sector of the new car market will become even more competitive providing strong competition for the highly praised new Ford Mondeo range.
The Insignia's elegant styling combines interesting sculptured artistry with technical precision, illustrated by wing and blade themes which integrate with the car's rakish silhouette. The body's sculpted shape is punctuated by sweeping front and rear light designs and fronted by a bold radiator grille, which displays the refreshed Griffin logo in a new, circular surround carrying Vauxhall's name.
Another benefit brought by the Insignia's flowing lines is a low Cd of just 0.27, bringing with it benefits in fuel consumption and performance. All body variants have an identical wheelbase of 2,737mm, while the Sport Tourer adds around 80mm to the 4,830mm length of the Saloon and Hatch models.
| | "Inside the sweeping styling lines are continued and basically there is a significant improvement in quality and overall appearance. It just looks and feels a much classier car than the Vectra" |  | | | On the downside the coupe roof line significantly limits rear seat headroom in the Hatch and it is hardly any better in the Saloon and the steeply angled rear window significantly restricts rearward vision.
Rear seat legroom is also not plentiful but there is a huge boot.
The Insignia is a case of style over function in some areas but the smart new sporty image will be attractive to many more owners who might now find owning a Vauxhall appealing.
Because there are so many models, specification levels and options available with a wide range of engines I've just concentrated on one specific model which I think is the sensible variant in today's cost conscious market place.
The Insignia Hatch has the best and most versatile body style and whilst I liked the SE specification best I tend to agree with Vauxhall that Exclusiv will be the most popular value for money option.
The best engine choice in financial terms relative to enough performance for everyday use is the 2.0-litre CDTi 130PS/300Nm turbodiesel unit and this model costs £16,935 on-the- road.
|  | By paying an extra £250 customers can opt for the 160PS/350Nm version of the same engine and there is a marginal and probably worthwhile increase in performance for some people.
The 1.8-litre petrol engine 140PS/175Nm engine does not have enough torque for this size of car and feels sluggish on hills. The 2.0-litre, 220PS direct injection Turbo petrol unit is much better if petrol is your choice and because maximum torque of 350Nm is delivered from 2,000 it is a responsive performer. Forget the 2.8-litre V6 Turbo engine it's not needed. | It's not just about purchase price or running costs, for business users it's about Benefit-in-Kind taxation in today's cash-strapped world. Why pay more company car tax than you need to. And be warned adding options such as FlexRide, Adaptive 4x4, Front Camera and Adaptive Forward Lighting functions adds to the price, in turn more tax and that means more unnecessary expense.
The FlexRide system is not required, the standard suspension smooths out the bumps, potholes and ridges in the road just fine providing a comfortable and relaxed ride. The steering feels dull or dead giving little feedback but it is precise as it needs to be for such a large and substantial car.
Sticking with the standard sized alloy road wheels and not going for ultra low profile tyres keeps road noise intrusion down to a very low level.
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The Insignia is a significant step forward for Vauxhall both in looks, quality and desirability but it still looses out to the new Ford Mondeo for interior space and driving refinement.
| | | MILESTONES | Vauxhall Insignia 2.0CDTi Exclusiv £16,935. | Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, 130PS, 300Nm from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual. Performance: 127mph, 0-60mph 10.4 seconds, 48.7mpg (38.8mpg actual), CO2 154g/km, VED Band D £145. Benefit-in-Kind tax 21%.
Dimensions: 4,830mm long, 1,856mm wide, 1,498mm high, boot capacity 520-1,465-litres. Insurance group: 8.
For: Good looks, a move up in quality and class, comfortable ride, most models well priced, wide choice of variants.
Against: Poor rear headroom, restricted rear window visibility, dull steering.
| | ©DAVID MILES | | | |
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